David Hunt, president and CEO of Hunt Services Inc., is the man behind Russellville’s recent addition of Buffalo Wild Wings.
And he wants to be the man behind The Landing, a development that would include a convention center, hotel and businesses.
Hunt — with the help of his wife, Melissa — operates a real estate and franchise development firm out of Jackson, Tenn. Once a small husband-and-wife business that provided medical insurance exams, Hunt Services Inc. is now an enterprise that works with million-dollar franchises such as Hampton Inn and Buffalo Wild Wings.
Now that Buffalo Wild Wings is complete, Hunt has joined discussions with city officials regarding the planned convention center. He will present a proposal of The Landing development to the Russellville City Council during its July meeting at City Hall.
“When I heard about the plans for the convention center, I started researching the situation,” Hunt said. “I went and scouted the area, and I feel like it is just a great, great idea. I feel that we have the people and the knowledge to make this great.”
A business graduate from the University of Tennessee, Hunt said he takes little credit for the success of the business. He said success is all about community, people and faith.
“Regardless of my business success, I’m still the same country guy that grew up on a gravel road in west Tennessee,” Hunt said. “My faith, and the love that is all around me, is what motivates me. Myself, my wife and my employees all do an equal share. That’s why we’ve grown.”
Hunt said his parents — who raised him in a small Tennessee town — taught him he could do anything.
“When I was growing up, for as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” he said. “My parents didn’t have the means to pursue their dream of being business owners, but they instilled that desire in me.”
Shortly after Hunt and his wife had their second child, they created H & H Paramedical, a business that provided insurance exams, drug testing and the handling of medical records.
“The way we worked it was that I would take care of the insurance side and she would do all of the exams,” Hunt said. “And that’s where we got started.”
Years later, after several more business improvements, Hunt decided to make his move toward his passion — real estate — where he could achieve his dream of assisting community growth in cities across the nation.
Upgrading his business to Hunt Services Inc., he and his wife began purchasing real estate in west Tennessee and increasing their community involvement.
“We now have franchises, such as Hunt Wings LLC,” Hunt said. “What we have is a developing plan with these large business chains. We work with the franchises and pick out the real estate for new buildings and then oversee the construction.”
When Russellville was listed as a potential site by Buffalo Wild Wings, Hunt decided to see the community for himself. He said he was immediately impressed when he arrived for his meeting with city officials.
“I met with Russellville’s mayor, Bill Eaton, and with Jeff Pipkin and some others,” he said. “They were just so welcoming and they were really easy to talk to. And it wasn’t just them that impressed me; it’s the whole city.
“I’m a builder and a developer. I looked at the area and at the landscape and just fell in love with it. It was beautiful.”
Hunt said all development and construction aside, he and his wife are excited to be involved in the Russellville community.
“We are glad to be doing our part for Russellville,” Hunt said. “It’s a wonderful city, and we both love it. We look forward to bringing more possibilities to Russellville in the future.” (THE COURIER / Sean Ingram)

David Hunt, president and CEO of Hunt Services Inc., is the man behind Russellville’s recent addition of Buffalo Wild Wings.

And he wants to be the man behind The Landing, a development that would include a convention center, hotel and businesses.

Hunt — with the help of his wife, Melissa — operates a real estate and franchise development firm out of Jackson, Tenn. Once a small husband-and-wife business that provided medical insurance exams, Hunt Services Inc. is now an enterprise that works with million-dollar franchises such as Hampton Inn and Buffalo Wild Wings.

Now that Buffalo Wild Wings is complete, Hunt has joined discussions with city officials regarding the planned convention center. He will present a proposal of The Landing development to the Russellville City Council during its July meeting at City Hall.

“When I heard about the plans for the convention center, I started researching the situation,” Hunt said. “I went and scouted the area, and I feel like it is just a great, great idea. I feel that we have the people and the knowledge to make this great.”

A business graduate from the University of Tennessee, Hunt said he takes little credit for the success of the business. He said success is all about community, people and faith.

“Regardless of my business success, I’m still the same country guy that grew up on a gravel road in west Tennessee,” Hunt said. “My faith, and the love that is all around me, is what motivates me. Myself, my wife and my employees all do an equal share. That’s why we’ve grown.”

Hunt said his parents — who raised him in a small Tennessee town — taught him he could do anything.

“When I was growing up, for as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” he said. “My parents didn’t have the means to pursue their dream of being business owners, but they instilled that desire in me.”

Shortly after Hunt and his wife had their second child, they created H & H Paramedical, a business that provided insurance exams, drug testing and the handling of medical records.

“The way we worked it was that I would take care of the insurance side and she would do all of the exams,” Hunt said. “And that’s where we got started.”

Years later, after several more business improvements, Hunt decided to make his move toward his passion — real estate — where he could achieve his dream of assisting community growth in cities across the nation.

Upgrading his business to Hunt Services Inc., he and his wife began purchasing real estate in west Tennessee and increasing their community involvement.

“We now have franchises, such as Hunt Wings LLC,” Hunt said. “What we have is a developing plan with these large business chains. We work with the franchises and pick out the real estate for new buildings and then oversee the construction.”

When Russellville was listed as a potential site by Buffalo Wild Wings, Hunt decided to see the community for himself. He said he was immediately impressed when he arrived for his meeting with city officials.

“I met with Russellville’s mayor, Bill Eaton, and with Jeff Pipkin and some others,” he said. “They were just so welcoming and they were really easy to talk to. And it wasn’t just them that impressed me; it’s the whole city.

“I’m a builder and a developer. I looked at the area and at the landscape and just fell in love with it. It was beautiful.”

Hunt said all development and construction aside, he and his wife are excited to be involved in the Russellville community.

“We are glad to be doing our part for Russellville,” Hunt said. “It’s a wonderful city, and we both love it. We look forward to bringing more possibilities to Russellville in the future.”